Portable terminal device having a function of connecting to a prescribed server device through a communication connection and communication connection method thereof

ABSTRACT

A connection operation for connecting a portable terminal to a prescribed server device can be carried out in an extremely simple and prompt manner. Thus, for example, an inquiry operation for inquiring about mail reception to the server device can also be performed extremely simply and quickly. A cellular phone ( 20 ) includes a main operation part ( 25 ) and a main LCD ( 21 ) which are coupled with each other in such a manner that they can be opened and closed with respect to each other. A rear key ( 22 ) is arranged on a rear surface of the cellular phone ( 20 ) in such a manner that it can be operated by a user. A sub LCD ( 23 ) is provided on the rear surface of the cellular phone ( 20 ) in such a manner as to be able to display prescribed information based on an operation of the rear key ( 22 ). By detecting when the rear key ( 22 ) is kept depressed for a predetermined time or longer, the cellular phone ( 20 ) is connected to the server device for receiving electronic mails, so that prescribed information from this server device is displayed on the sub LCD ( 23 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/205,612, filed Jul. 26, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,781, thesubject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a communicationconnection method thereof with a function of performing connection to aprescribed server device through a communication line, and morespecifically, it relates to improvements in the operation for carryingout inquiries about mail or message information and/or download of data(hereinafter simply referred to as inquiries) with respect to the serverdevice which receives electronic mails and message information.

2. Description of the Related Art

There have hitherto been known portable terminals such as cellularphones which have the function of inquiring about the reception ofelectronic mails (hereinafter also simply referred to mails) to a serverdevice which receives such electronic mails, and downloading the mails,if received, from the server device to the portable terminals. In suchknown portable terminals, the operational procedure for making inquiriesabout received mails is carried out as follows. That is, a menu is firstcalled in which a plurality of functions are able to be displayed, anditems relating to electronic mails are then selected from the menu.Thereafter, by directing and selecting items to be inquired about at amail center (i.e., mail server device), a portable terminal is connectedto the mail center and an inquiry is made as to whether there are anymail arrivals. In this manner, the user is able to carry out an inquiryabout the arrival of mails while operating an appropriate menu or menus,thereby alleviating the operation load on the part of the user.

However, when an inquiry about the reception of electronic mails is madethrough menu operations, it is generally necessary to take a lot ofoperational steps while following multiple stages from menus asmentioned above and hence such operations are not necessarily simple. Inparticular, the above-mentioned operations are rather complicated undersituations where mail inquiries need be carried out frequently orpromptly. Therefore, if an inquiry of mail reception could be performedthrough a reduced number of operational steps, for example only a singleoperational step, in a portable terminal, the user would be able toperform such an operation in an extremely simple and prompt manner, thusmaking it possible to improve the convenience or ease of operation. Inaddition, in case of a known foldable portable terminal, if inquiriescould be made with the portable terminal being in its folded state whilebeing carried about by a user, the convenience or ease of operationwould be more excellent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentionedcircumstances, and has for its object to provide a portable terminal anda communication connection method thereof in which a user is able tocarry out the operation of connecting the portable terminal to a mailserver device in an extremely simple and prompt manner, so that user'soperation for inquiring about the reception of electronic mails, messageinformation, etc., for example, can be performed extremely simply andquickly.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a portable terminal having afunction of connecting itself to a prescribed server device through acommunication line. The portable terminal includes a prescribed buttonkey, depression detection means for detecting that the prescribed buttonkey is kept depressed for a predetermined time or longer, and connectionmeans for performing connection to the server device based on adetection signal of the depression detection means.

With such a configuration, the portable terminal is connected to theprescribed server device just by pressing down the prescribed button keyover the predetermined time or longer. For instance, the portableterminal can be connected to the server device receiving electronicmails in a simple and prompt manner, thus making it possible for theuser to inquire about or download arrived mails, arrived messageinformation or message data. Message information is the informationprovided in push delivery services such as, for example, news flashes,weather forecasts, etc. In the above-mentioned configuration, byassuming as a requirement the condition that the prescribed button keyis kept depressed for the predetermined time or longer, it is possibleto prevent the portable terminal from being unnecessarily connected tothe server device due to careless depression of the button key by theuser, or due to accidental depression of the button key by an objectstriking thereagainst. As a result, occurrence of uselessly connectedcommunication costs can be avoided. In addition, by pressing the buttonkey for a period of time less than the predetermined time, otheroperational instructions can be executed with the button key, thusmaking the button key available for a lot of usages as an operationmeans. Although in the following description of a preferred embodimentof the present invention, a cellular phone is taken as a concreteexample of the portable terminal, the portable terminal may includeother portable terminals such as a PDA, etc., which are constructed forthe purpose of portability.

Preferably, the portable terminal further includes download executionmeans for downloading electronic mails from the server device whenconnection to the server device which is capable of receiving electronicmails is performed by the connection means. Accordingly, the electronicmails stored in the server device can be downloaded to the portableterminal quite simply and quickly. Preferably, the prescribed button keycomprises a rear key provided on a rear surface of the portableterminal, and the rear key is arranged at a position different from amain operation portion. As a result of such an arrangement, the user canconfirm the position of the button key quite easily. Preferably, theportable terminal further includes a main operation part and a maindisplay, wherein the portable terminal is of a foldable structureenabling the main operation part and the main display to be opened andclosed with respect to each other. The button key is depressible in afolded state of the portable terminal in which the main operation partis closed to the main display. With this arrangement, the user canconnect the portable terminal to the server device with the portableterminal being kept folded. Additionally, in this case, a sub displayfor displaying information on electronic mails from the server devicemay be arranged in an appropriate location in the vicinity of theprescribed button key in such a manner that it is visible in the foldedstate of the portable terminal. With this arrangement, the user caneasily know the results of connected communications such as mailinquiries with the portable terminal being kept folded, thus providingexcellent usability or ease of operation.

Moreover, it is preferable that the prescribed button key and the subdisplay be arranged on a rear side of a casing provided with the maindisplay in an open state of the portable terminal. With thisarrangement, a narrow space on the casing surface of the portableterminal can be used effectively. In addition, the portable terminal mayfurther include opened/closed state detection means for detecting anopened state and a closed state of the portable terminal which is of thefoldable structure. The connection means performs connection to theserver device when the closed and/or open state of the portable terminalis detected by the opened/closed state detection means. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the connection can be made ineither the closed state or the open state of the portable terminal, butif the connection can be made only in the closed state, it is possibleto perform the connection to the server device with the portableterminal being in its folded state, and the button key can also be usedfor other operational purposes when the portable terminal is in its openstate. Thus, in this case, too, a narrow operational space on the casingsurface of the portable terminal can be used in an effective manner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda portable terminal of a foldable structure including a main operationpart and a main display part, which are able to be opened and closed.The portable terminal includes a rear key arranged on a rear surface ofa panel provided with the main display part, and a sub display arrangedon the rear surface of the panel in such a manner as to be able todisplay prescribed information based on an operation of the rear sidekey. When the rear key is kept depressed for a predetermined time orlonger, the depressed state of the rear key is detected whereby theportable terminal is connected to a prescribed server device, thusenabling prescribed information from the server device to be displayedon the sub display. With this configuration, it is possible to providethe portable terminal with all the effects as referred to above.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communication connection method for connecting a portableterminal to a prescribed server device through a communication line. Themethod includes the steps of: detecting when a prescribed button key iskept depressed for a predetermined time or longer; connecting theportable terminal to the prescribed server device through thecommunication line when the prescribed button key is depressed; andreceiving prescribed information from the prescribed server device. Withthis method, the user is able to carry out the operation of connectingthe portable terminal to the prescribed server device in an extremelysimple and prompt manner. Accordingly, for example, an inquiry operationfor inquiring about mail reception to the server device can also beperformed extremely simply and quickly.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of thepresent invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1( a) is a view showing the appearance of a foldable cellular phonein its unfolded state according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1( b) is a view showing of the rear side of the foldable cellularphone in its folded state.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an opened/closed state detection switch.

FIG. 3 is a table showing how to use a rear key in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating one example of thehardware configuration of the cellular phone in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a mail inquiry operation as an operationof the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedbelow in detail while referring to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment of the present invention describes, as a portable ormobile terminal, a foldable cellular phone that is provided on its rearside with a sub LCD and a rear side key.

FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) are views showing one example of the externalappearance of the foldable cellular phone, in which FIG. 1( a)illustrates the appearance of the foldable cellular phone in its openedor unfolded state, and FIG. 1( b) illustrates the appearance of thefoldable cellular phone in its closed or folded state.

The cellular phone 20 includes an operation part side 26 forming a mainoperation part 25 with a plurality of button keys 24, and a display partside 28 forming a main display (main LCD) 21 and being swingably orfoldably coupled at its one end with the operation part side 26 througha swing shaft 27. In an open or unfolded state of the cellular phone 20,a user can operate the main operation part 25 and visually check themain display 21, whereas in a folded state of the cellular phone 20,these main display 21 and main operation part 25 are closed into acompact form so that they are isolated from the exterior.

In the vicinity of the swing shaft 27, there is provided a detectionmechanism 33 which acts as a detection means for detecting the opened orclosed state of the cellular phone 20. This detection mechanism 33includes a presser part 31 which protrudes from a casing surface of thedisplay part side 28, and a push switch 34 (to be described later withreference to FIG. 2) which is arranged in a concave portion 32 formed ona casing surface of the operation part side 26 in such a manner that itis pushed down to be closed by the presser part 31. The push switch 34is constructed in the following manner, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, aswitch pad 342 formed at an inner end of a push rod (unnumbered) isarranged in a rib 341 formed on a rear or inner surface of the casing ofthe operation part side 26 so as to be movable in the verticaldirection. The switch pad 342 is urged in an upward direction by spring(not shown) in the form of a coiled spring or flat spring. Thus, bypushing down the switch pad 342 against the resilient force of thespring, a prescribed terminal 344 arranged on the bottom of the concaveportion 32 is electrically connected with ground (GND) 345. In thismanner, the open or closed state of the foldable cellular phone 20 isdetected by the potential of the terminal 344.

As shown in FIG. 1( b), a rear key (rear side key) 22, which constitutesa prescribed button key of the present invention, and a sub display inthe form of a sub LCD 23 are arranged on the rear surface of the maindisplay 21 at locations mutually adjacent to each other. The rear key 22is controlled to simply light or flash so that it is used to indicatevarious operating conditions of the cellular phone 20. Alternatively,the rear key 22 is available to change the display of the sub LCD 23. Inaddition to these purposes, the rear key 22 is also used for theoperation of mail inquiries, as will be described later. The sub LCD 23is available to display a variety of pieces of information by operatingthe rear key 22. That is, for example, the sub LCD 23 can be switched todisplay the date and time, mail arrival information, voice arrivalinformation, etc. Here, note that how to use the rear key 22 includingmail inquiries in this embodiment is illustrated in a table in FIG. 3.As clearly seen from this table, there are some modes of operation forthe rear key 22 used for different purposes at the time when thecellular phone 20 is opened or closed. In addition, different functionsare executed when the rear key 22 is pressed or depressed in a shorttime (short pressing) or in a long time (long pressing). FIG. 3 showsthat various functions are executed in a separate and distinct manner bya short pressing or a long pressing depending upon various operatingconditions including the open and closed states, the state ofcommunications, and waiting, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram which schematically shows one example of thehardware configuration of the cellular phone 20. In the cellular phone20 shown in FIG. 4, a radio transmission and reception part 2 providedwith an antenna 1, a base band processing part 3, an input operationpart 5 by which the user is able to input telephone numbers and variouspieces of information through key operations, a memory 6 having aregistration part 6 a and a history part 6 b, a display part 7, the subLCD 23, and a rear key lighting part 8 are all electrically connected toa control part 4. In addition, a speaker 10 and a microphone 11 are alsoelectrically connected to the control part 4 through an interface (IF)9. The input operation part 5 includes the rear key 22 in addition tovarious kinds of keys arranged in the main operation part 25. Thedisplay control part 7 is electrically connected to the main display(main LCD) 21 and the sub LCD 23 shown in FIG. 1 so as to performdisplay control on the respective LCDs 21, 23.

Hereinafter, reference will be made to a mail inquiry operationaccording to this embodiment of the present invention while using FIG.5.

First of all, when it is detected that the rear key 22 is depressed orpressed down (step S1), it is determined whether the duration time ofthe depression or pressing is equal to or longer than a predeterminedtime (a long depression or pressing: 1 second for instance) (step S2).When the duration time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time(YES in step S2), it is then determined whether a prescribed period oftime has elapsed from an inquiry operation carried out last time (stepS3). Only when the prescribed period of time has elapsed (YES in stepS3), a browser is activated and a packet connection is started so thatthe cellular phone 20 is connected to a server device (step S4). Thereason for the provision of step S3 in which the connection is made onlyafter the lapse of the prescribed period of time is as follows. That is,even if reconnection is made at a time point when a sufficient time hasnot yet elapsed from the last connection, there would be rather a lowprobability of the arrival of a new mail, and hence it is possible toavoid the cost of connected communications due to useless or meaninglessconnection. If it is determined in step S3 that the prescribed period oftime has not yet elapsed (NO in step S3), the flow jumps to step S6 tobe described later, where the result of the inquiries already made andinformation on the mails downloaded and stored into the cellular phone20 are displayed.

If the result of the determination in step S4 is positive (YES in stepS4), it is determined whether the connection to the server device hasbeen made (step S5). If a determination is made that the connection tothe server device has been made (YES in step S5), the result of theinquiries is displayed at the sub LCD 23, and newly arrived mails, ifany, are downloaded and stored into the registration part 6 a of thememory 6 (step S6). An indication of the sub LCD 23 is displayed like“newly arrived mails xx pieces” for instance. Note that during the mailinquiry operation, an indication to that effect is displayed in the subLCD 23. For instance, an indication “during inquiry” is made, and duringthe inquiry operation, the rear key 22 may exhibit a flashing state byalternately lighting two kinds of luminescent colors for instance. Afterthe inquiry result is displayed, the screen of the sub LCD 23 is shiftedto another one manually by user's operation or automatically after thelapse of a predetermined time.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S2 that the depressionor pressing time of the rear key 22 does not reach the predeterminedtime, a determination is made that the pressing operation is a displayswitching operation to the sub LCD 23 for instance, and then in step S7,the display of the sub LCD 23 is switched over. Here, note that thisoperation is different or separate from the mail inquiry operation, withthe flow of processing for this operation being shown by a broken linein FIG. 5. In this embodiment, however, the content of the instructionof the rear key 22 is varied depending upon the pressing time thereof,so that many kinds of functions can be executed by a limited number ofkeys as in the case of cellular phones which are subjected torestrictions on the arrangement space for button keys.

Moreover, when it is determined in step S5 that the connection to theserver device has not yet been made, a determination is then madewhether the inquiry is to be aborted (step S8). If not aborted (NO instep S8), a return to step S4 is carried out, whereas if aborted (YES instep S8), the inquiry operation is terminated. In this connection, notethat when the connection to the server device has not yet been carriedout in step S5, in order to receive user's instruction for thedetermination in step S8, an indication to that effect is displayed atthe sub LCD 23. Alternatively, a setting may be made such that theconnection to the server device can be automatically tried up to apredetermined number of times, and it is determined in step S8 whetherthe number of connections tried has reached the predetermined number oftimes.

Further, although in this embodiment, the connection of communicationsis carried out by a long depression or pressing of the rear key 22 inany of the open and closed states of the cellular phone 20 in FIG. 3, itgoes without saying that such connection can be made only in either oneof these states, e.g., particularly in the closed state alone, based onthe detection signal of the opened/closed state detection mechanism 33,and a long pressing of the rear key 22 may be used as a differentinstruction in the open state of the cellular phone 20. In this case,for instance, a step of determining whether the cellular phone 20 is inits open state or in its closed state is provided between steps S2 andS3 in the above-mentioned flow chart of FIG. 5, and when determined tobe in the closed state, the flow proceeds to step S3. Thus, according tosuch a modification or mode of use, the connection of communications canbe performed with the cellular phone 20 being kept closed when carriedabout by the user. In addition, the same rear key 22 is available foranother purpose when the cellular phone 20 is open, whereby the limitedspace of the portable terminal can be used effectively.

As explained above, in this embodiment of the present invention, a mailinquiry can be made just by pressing the rear key 22 for a period oftime equal to or longer than a predetermined time. Accordingly, the rearkey 22 can be manipulated with a one-touch operation, making it possibleto perform the operation of the rear key 22 in an extremely simple andquick manner. In addition, a mail inquiry can be made with the foldablecellular phone remaining in its closed state though the foldablecellular phone is generally carried about in its closed state by theuser. Moreover, the user can know the result of the inquiry, and henceit is possible to further enhance the effect that the mail inquiry canbe made simply and promptly.

Although the cellular phone has been described in the above embodiment,it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied toother portable terminals such as a PDA or the like. Additionally, theconnection to the server devise is made for a mail inquiry in the aboveembodiment, but the present invention can also be applied to the casewhere one wants to check or download the information other thanelectronic mails stored in the server device side. For instance, thepresent invention is available, too, to inquire about or downloadmessage information or message data provided in push delivery servicessuch as news flashes, weather forecasts, etc.

As described in detail in the foregoing, according to the presentinvention, the user can carry out the operation of connecting a portableterminal to a prescribed server device in an extremely simple and promptmanner. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a portable terminal and acommunication connection method thereof by which the user is able toperform the operation of inquiring about and/or downloading mailinformation, message information or message data, for instance, storedin the server device extremely easily and promptly.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

1. A portable terminal having a function of connecting to a prescribedserver device through a communication connection, said portable terminalcomprising: a prescribed button key; a depression detection unit fordetecting that said prescribed button key is kept depressed for apredetermined time or longer; a connection unit for connecting to saidserver device based on a detection signal from said depression detectionunit; a main operation part and a main display, wherein said portableterminal is of a swingable structure enabling said main operation partand said main display to be opened and closed with respect to eachother, said button key being depressible in a closed state of saidportable terminal in which said main operation part is closed withrespect to said main display; and an opened/closed state detection unitfor detecting an opened state and a closed state of said portableterminal which is of the swingable structure, wherein said connectionunit performs connection to said server device when the closed state ofsaid portable terminal is detected by said opened/closed state detectionunit.
 2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprisinga sub display for displaying information on electronic mails from saidserver device, said sub display being arranged in a vicinity of saidprescribed button key in such a manner that said sub display is visiblein the folded state of said portable terminal.
 3. The portable terminalaccording to claim 2, wherein said prescribed button key and said subdisplay are arranged on a rear side of a casing provided with said maindisplay in an open state of said portable terminal.
 4. The portableterminal according to claim 1, further comprising a download executionunit for downloading electronic mails from said server device whenconnected to said server device.
 5. The portable terminal according toclaim 1, further comprising an inquiry unit for inquiring whether thereare mail arrivals in said prescribed server device when connected tosaid prescribed server device.
 6. The portable terminal according toclaim 1, wherein said prescribed button key comprises a rear keyprovided on a rear surface.
 7. The portable terminal according to claim1, wherein a first function is executed by a short pressing of saidprescribed button key and second function is executed by a long pressingof said prescribed button key.
 8. A portable terminal of a foldablestructure including a main operation part and a main display part whichare able to be opened and closed with respect to each other, saidportable terminal comprising: a rear key arranged on a rear surface of apanel provided with said main display part; and a sub display arrangedon the rear surface of said panel in such a manner as to be able todisplay prescribed information based on an operation of said rear key;wherein when said rear key is kept depressed for a predetermined time orlonger, a depressed state of said rear key is detected and said portableterminal is connected to a prescribed server device, thus enablingprescribed information from said server device to be displayed on saidsub display, wherein said portable terminal is of a swingable structureenabling said main operation part and said main display part to beopened and closed with respect to each other, said rear key beingdepressible in a closed state of said portable terminal in which saidmain operation part is closed with respect to said main display part;and further comprising an opened/closed state detection unit fordetecting an opened state and closed state of said portable terminalwhich is of the swingable structure, wherein said connection unitperforms connection to said sewer device when the closed state of saidportable terminal is detected by said opened/closed state detectionunit.
 9. The portable terminal according to claim 8, wherein a firstfunction is executed by a short pressing of said rear key and secondfunction is executed by a long pressing of said rear key.
 10. Acommunication connection method for connecting a portable terminal to aprescribed server device through a communication connection, saidportable terminal is of a swingable structure enabling a main operationpart and a main display to be opened and closed with respect to eachother, said method comprising the steps of: detecting when a prescribedbutton key is depressed for a predetermined time or longer; connectingsaid portable terminal to said prescribed server device through saidcommunication connection when said prescribed button key is depressed;receiving prescribed information from said prescribed server device;opening and closing said main operation part and said main display withrespect to each other, depressing said prescribed button key in a closedstate of said portable terminal in which said main operation part isclosed to said main display; detecting a closing of said main operationpart with respect to said main display; and connecting said portableterminal to said server device when said closing of said main operationpart with respect to said main display is detected.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising: executing a first function bya short pressing of said prescribed button key; and executing a secondfunction be a long pressing of said prescribed button key.